Confession

Robert Anthony tells of the time when the Viceroy of Naples was visiting in Spain. He visited the harbor and saw a galley ship of convicts used to pull the oars. The Viceroy went aboard and asked the men why they were there. One man said that the judge was bribed to convict him. Another said that his enemies paid people to bear false witness against him. Still another said his best friend had lied to protect himself. Finally one man said, "I'm here because I deserve to be. I wanted money and I stole a purse." With this the Viceroy said to the captain, "Here are all these innocent men and only one wicked man in their midst. Let us release this man lest he infect the others." The man was set free and pardoned.